CHAPTER XVIII

_A MIDNIGHT VISITOR_


The frightful warnings of Lady Knollys haunted me too. Was there no escape
from the dreadful companion whom fate had assigned me? I made up my mind
again and again to speak to my father and urge her removal. In other things
he indulged me; here, however, he met me drily and sternly, and it was
plain that he fancied I was under my cousin Monica's influence, and also
that he had secret reasons for persisting in an opposite course. Just then
I had a gay, odd letter from Lady Knollys, from some country house in
Shropshire. Not a word about Captain Oakley. My eye skimmed its pages in
search of that charmed name. With a peevish feeling I tossed the sheet upon
the table. Inwardly I thought how ill-natured and unwomanly it was.

After a time, however, I read it, and found the letter very good-natured.
She had received a note from papa. He had 'had the impudence to forgive
_her_ for _his_ impertinence.' But for my sake she meant, notwithstanding
this aggravation, really to pardon him; and whenever she had a disengaged
week, to accept his invitation to Knowl, from whence she was resolved to
whisk me off to London, where, though I was too young to be presented at
Court and come out, I might yet--besides having the best masters and a good
excuse for getting rid of Medusa--see a great deal that would amuse and
surprise me.

'Great news, I suppose, from Lady Knollys?' said Madame, who always knew
who in the house received letters by the post, and by an intuition from
whom they came.